THE ROBOTIC ANT

Chapter 6

I was ready to pay a couple of dollars for a taxi ride but I cannot agree to drive with my brother in his rusted brown van that he bought at a cheaper rate than the second-hand three wheeled tricycle he had in his past days 25 years back! I was lost in the glimpse of Scoot in those days, what a beautiful mind he had, and what a critical, more dangerous mind he has now! I have no problem for him spending his money on useless 'scrap and junk', but the thing is that he will never get the point in his head that his van is not meant to run at any speed more than 10 km per hour that he drive at 60 km per hour. And secondly, on ever drive, one of any parts has to come off. I was not willing to find out what was going to break off this time. Even at the lowest speed, it feels to me that he is speed-breaking. It is a roller coaster in itself, except with no verification of safety, double life risk, and the extreme foul smell. Worse than all this, you can also find filthy wafers at every corner of the vehicle.

And there it stood, the piece of trash bathing under the Sun. His van was shining and the reflections were coming straight into my eyes, so sharply and fiercely, I was blind for a whole next minute with blue blobs coming everywhere I looked. It was 2 in the evening and the sun was at its top. Alike today, whenever time spends up quickly, I get all cranky. But currently, I had a greater shock coming my way. It was Scoot's van, definitely his, I know his plate, but, just it was in a gloss white colour from the expected rusted brown. He painted it.

"Surprise!" I was happy for him that after so long, he had finally taken care of his vehicle, though, I don't agree with him for wasting even a single penny on something that's overall going to become 'garbage' very soon. "That's a great surprise!" I appreciated him though moreover, I disliked the idea and everything else about that van that is already in its afterlife. "You can't raise a dead bull, brother." I knew he was not going to understand it. He nodded and now I was more certain about it.

I boarded the passenger seat which was the same, but neat. I thought there would be an improvement in the ride before we took off with the ride that was as bumpy as ever. Before the last hit and I lost my memory, I counted my delicately important head hit the solid metal roof three times. For the first time in his van's record, it stopped and there was nothing yet broken. There was no piece poking out of something and no piece was hanging delightfully ready to fall at any moment. Except, there were four dents on the roof and four bumps atop my head.

My eyes were rounding in a circle and I was about to throw-up at any moment. I hope someone curses the man who gave my brother a license. I wasn't sure where he had taken me but I could tell it wasn't our home. As I budged my head around still clearing my eyes, I exactly knew where we were. He had taken me to the GrandWood Shopping Centre, a place where you can find everything, a place where your heart dangles over every piece and you feel like buying everything while the starting prices are rightly off the entire budget. Once you are in, it is certainly not possible to exit empty-handed and your bill's always over filling with numbers. Though you will never be able to avoid shopping at GrandWood, your heart will crumble, your hand will quiver and your soul will weep dollars when you pay the bills!

And there it stood, in yellow fabric with orange strips, a shirt over a figure which had now become my destiny and to earn it had now become my only aim in life. I knew that shirt didn't deserve to be worn by that man of plaster, but it deserved to be worn by me.

"Over here brother!" I heard Scoot screaming from the far end. He was waving something that looked like a couple of chits of paper. I walked to him to see him holding tickets to film. "What's that?" They were tickets, and I knew it. I don't know why I asked him this question.

"We are going for a movie!" He waved the tickets with his hand stretched up high as if it was a glass of cocktail and he was cheering it. First, he serviced his van, and now the film, I don't know from where he had managed with the money and I was afraid someday, some heavy brigands will come at my door to collect their lent money with beautifully oiled hockey sticks. The day I had this thought some months back, ever since, I planning to leave this city as quickly as possible. My thought might come true someday, but I was sure it won't come true today .And after all, no men can deny a cup of hot coffee and a FREE movie.